viii, 308 pages ; 22 cm

Analyzes the content of some 600 Russian jokes, proverbs, sayings, and popular rhymes, offering an insider's view on the sociological and psychological functions of Russian sexual folklore and the way it reflects relationships between men and women. Leaves no dirty joke untold in examination of such taboo subjects as adultery, impotence, and gender and violence

Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-302) and index

1. "The More of the Beloved's Body the Better Jokelore of Russian Sex Appeal -- Sources of Russian Bawdy Jokelore -- Two Cultural Standards Clash -- Food and Sex Appeal -- Changing Beauty Standards -- The Breast Fetish -- 2. "I'll Call You Boeing, 'Cause You're My 747th": Female Roles in Russian Male Jokelore -- Sexist Vocabulary -- Obscenity: Mat -- Misogynist Folklore -- Woman as Object of Male Desire -- Woman as Food -- Woman as Wanton -- The Controlling Functions of Male Jokes -- Sex for Money -- 3. "You Can't Do It to All the Women in the World But You Have to Try": The Male Image in Russian Jokelore -- The Male as Sexual Predator -- Male Camaraderie and Alcohol -- The Drinking Ritual -- The Sociology of Drinking -- The Russian Male's Catch-22 -- 4. Making War, Not Love: Jokelore on Courtship and Lovemaking -- Courtship, Russian Style -- Making War, Not Love -- Coital Positions -- 5. "What Luck! She Has a Husband and a Lover and What's More They Raped Her": Gender and Violence in Russian Jokelore -- Wife Beating Folklore -- Rape Jokes -- Sex Jokes as a Vehicle of Social Satire -- 6. "Walking Next to Your Mother at Your Funeral Will Spoil the Whole Pleasure of the Day": Russian Marriage and Mother-in-Law Jokes -- Marriage Jokes -- Mother-in-Law Jokes -- 7. Splitting the Bottle Three Ways: Jokelore of Impotence and Adultery -- Impotence Jokes -- "Trust but Verify": Jokes on Adultery -- 8. "We've Been Doing It to Everything in the World But an Awl and a Nail": The Erotic World of Russian Chastushkas -- Chastushka versus Anekdot -- The Ancient Roots of Bawdy Chastushkas -- The Primacy of Coitus -- Phallic Boasts -- Women in Bawdy Chastushkas -- Chastushkas and Dancing -- Bawdy Chastushkas and Verbal Pranks -- Conclusions -- The Personal Functions of Sex Jokes -- The Social Functions of Sex Jokes

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